Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-09-16
ROGER LAROQUE.
Adapted and Translated from tia Trench
Of Jules Mary,
BY OLIVE EARI CEs.

"Monsieur, permit me to remark" said
Henriette who felt that she could bear no
more, shat you question me with as much
rigdity as if | were an accomplice of this
crime. There is just limit, which l beg of
you not to pass. Your questions and your
insinuatious humiate and fatigue me. If
you please, let this end"
81 only search the light, madame" said
Lacroix, with much genthness, "and to sur
round myself with all the witnesses that
might form my conviction AS you wish,
madame, will withdraw, particularly as l
have noticed for some moments that you
were profoundly agitated"
With this he saluted her codly, but
politely, and withdrew, leaving her prey to
violent agitation. What to do. How hinder
Victoria from telling all she knew! How
much did she know2 Would all she DOS
sessed buy her siencel Hardly knowing
what she did she rang for Victoria, but
learned that she had been ordered to go
directly to the magistrates office, where she
was now without doubt being examined by
NJ. LacroiX. Henriette passed over in her
mind all that had happened, and the more she
thought the greater grew her agony, for She
knew that her own denial, coupled with what
Victoria might say, would serve to bring down
the avalanche upon her shoulders. She could
from which even the caresses of her child
could not rouse her.
In the meantime the magistrate by threats
and promises obtained from Victoria the fact
that mother and child had been on the bal
cony, that she had heard every word they
had said as they spoke to some one to her In.
visible, and who they believed to be Roger
Laroque; heard Suzanne say: "There is papa
going to see the neighbour" their apparent
agitation; and al! that testimony was written
down and She was made to sign it, and then
told not to go back to that house, but to hold
herself in readiness for future orders Then
NJ. Lacroix took all the papers he had seized
at the dead mans house and read them, after
which he made them into two packages. One
held papers Of no moment, the other con-
tanned two letters only, each containing but
few lines But in reading them Mr. La
croix could not restrain an exclamation of JOY
and surprise. These letters were dutci six
and eight days back and both addressed to
Laroue;te, who, according to the addresses on
the envelopes, lived at that time Rue st. ItOch,
No. H. in Paris The first WAS as follows:
"Sr: You call upon me to pay to You $780,
900 francs loaned me by your uncle,
Mr.. Celcstm Naubernon, Whose heir you are.
will no. conceal from you that the restitu-
ment will greatly embarrass me. Ii You Will
call at my Office at Rue 81. Maur will ex-
plain to YOU the nature OF that embarrass-
ment. ROGER LAEOQUE"
The other was more lacOnic and oven dcs-
perate.
''Sir: You exact your money. You have
the right to doso You can call at Rue st.
Maur, and receive from the cashier the $780,
900 francs left by your uncle, plus the interest
which has accrued, and which | paid yearly.
1t is for me almost the certainty of ruin,
bankruptcy and dishonor.
"EOGER LATOQUE."
NJ Lacrox was convinced At least proofs
seemed to accumulate pointing to Laroque
as the murderer. And, horrible thought! the
wife and child had witnessed the crime. Tho
motive was clear. Laroque had paid Larou-
cite, and to avoid ruin and bankruptcy had
planned and executed this crime.
n Lacroix did not lose his time in useless
deductions He felt that he must move
quickly to prevent Roger Laroquo from
dispensing the sum of money he had stolen
from Larouette He took the train from Paris
and went direct to the prefecture OF the
police, and they gave him two keen detectives
Tristot and Pivolot. Then he returned tC
Versailles, where lie made his report to the
judge and state attorney. Then, being al
liberty to act, he shut himself up in his study
to lay out his plans for the preliminary ex
animation of the inhabitants of the Villa
Montalais
And what was taking place at the villa
during this coming and going of the commits
sary of the policei Henriette was in a morta
agony Of fear since the morning Fevel
burned in her veins. She was left in doubt
and uncertainty. Victoria did not return
Night fell and the hours dragged on The
windows We're all closed. Toward / O'Clock
in the morning Roger returned r came a,
he had the night before, to listen a.,l9 doo.o
his wife's room, and then go out Oh ,ll,oa t,
his own room, where he closed tho door Il
once.
But the silence was SO profound that The
mother and child heard Roger, while prepar
ing for sleep, sing II childish little air whicl
he had taught Suzanne to sing
This second night dragged along as had thu
last, only that Suzanne slept i'll her mother'
bed. But Henriette never thought Of lyin:
down. She remained wide awake trying tC
listen to her heart, and trying to think o
some way out Of this dreadful danger, every
moment her excited imagination taking he
over the horrible scene again.
The morning sun found her as the settin,
Ollo Hdu ItIb u6I ADOUC O'CLOCK she neUrt
noise in her husbands room. He had slep
without phantoms or remorse, and he awok
gay and light hearted, for he sung, as h
dressed, the same little song he had sung tn
night before. Yes, he sung while dressing
and with his window open to tho cool morn
ing air.
He came to his wife's door
"Coms IMP said Henriette In q feebl
voice.
Roger wont in, with smile on his lips, bu
stopped in surprise, seeing his wife up ant
dressed.
"Alreadyr' said he, "and it is not yet"
"lt Is 90 fine thst shall 60 Tor "a walk will
Suzanne said sho.
"Yoa are very happy. How with l seuh
60 along!' And he kissed Hsnristte tsndsrlv
and she did not forbid him by look or rssturs
and tAsa noticing Susanas, whose look u fss
he ocuad no% understand, he said:
Glow h Mis-, young lady, To-day again i
your mosbsr's bsdi They spell yea. kA
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